Switch-operating mechanism



Jan 6, 1931'. E. s. ,BQssLER 1J8763 SWITCH OPERATING HECHANIS Filed June 19, 1930 [7e/06mm' @1mg m Patented Jan. 6, 193.1'v

EDWIN S. BOSSLER, 0F JOI-1 SWITCH-orienten Application filed .Tune 19;,V

rlhis invention relates to switch operating mechanism and vmore particularly to the tongue-operating mechanism of switches used as part of the equipment of street railways.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a novel and greatly simpliiied form of mechanism to replace the spring link or toggle tongue-operating mechanism commonly used in switch boxes of the type illustrated and described in Patent No. 1,125,957, issued'to Carrollv Burton onJanuary 26th, 1915. V

In the drawings: n

Figure 1 isa plan of switch operating` mechanism embodying the `features of the invention. y t

Figure 2 isa sectional view taken on the line II-II ofFigure 1. The reference numeral 5 designates the base frame or body of a tongue switch adapted forA use on street railways and provided in its upper tace with a longitudinal recess 6 in which the switch tongue 7 is mounted or positioned. In the particular construction shown the tongue 7 is pivoted at its kheel on one endin the recess 6 and the switch point on the opposite end of the tongue is arranged to swing sidewise from one side to the other of the'said recess against the sides 8 and 9 thereof. y

Secured on one side of the frame or body 5 by means of bolts 10 is a switch boX 12 normally provided with a lid or cover 13 but which, in Figure 1, is shown as removed, the box 12 being provided with ribs or flanges 14 for supporting said lid. Y

` Projecting downwardly from the lower surface of the switch tongue 7 within recess 15 to a point below the bottom of the recess 6 is an integral lug 16 having atransverse opening therein in which one end of an adjustable reach-rod 17 is secure by a nut 18. lThe opposite end of the rod 17 is enlarged in diamon eter, a thimble or sleeve 19 being positioned on the reduced portion of said rod to provide a separator which serves to hold the rod rigidly in position on the lug 16 when nut 18 is screwed in place. The length of the thimble or sleeve 19 may be varied to suit the particular dimension of switch to which the cess 24: for a purp improved structure maybe appliedl and in changing the switch to a singlej'orfdouble f throw switchy I' r The enlarged end of the reach rod 17 is provided with an internallythreaded axial opening in whichi'the" V:threaded end'v ofV al rod extension 20isv secured as by'nut' 21 and lock nut 22 so as/to be adjustableto'vary the overall lengthot the rod 17 vand itsextension. Theextension 20 is provided with an enlarged tlattened head 23 which is'fformed ywith areose'whichV will y,now be derlhe features ofthe present invention resideinthe'provision'of means inthe form of3 a compression spring 25 toryieldingly lholding the switch tongue 7 against either of the opposite sides 8`and`9 of the recess 6, de;- pending 'upon the vposition into whichit may 'be desired'to'nioveY theswitch tongue rand y the manner inwhich the switch operating mechanism 'ifn'adjusted i This spring 25, as herein shown, is of the ribbontype 'and is seated at opposite extremi ties in recesse'sor seats 26 formed vby lugs v27 which may be`-madeintegral with the side wallsof the lbox 12,"and at an intermediate pointV saidspring'is flattened over a vprede` termined portion of'its length asrat 25a and passed .through *the recess 24' of the head 23. The 'seats or recesses 26 which receive the opposite lends of Vthe spring 25 are located substantially an axial'linewith the neutral position of lsaid spring, or the'position there- Vof when von dead center and under greatest compression, and the lattenedportion 25a is of such length as will permit a certain amount of relative movement between the spring and reach rod 17 due to a slight arc swing of the rodV perpendicular to they movement of the tongue, the recess 24:'being of such size as to permit such relative movement.

The operation of a switch equipped with the present formof throw or operating mechanisni Awill be readily understood. When the switch tongue 7 is shifted from one side to the other of the recess 6, the reach rod 17 is correspondinglymoved. At the beginning of this movement, the spring 25 is compressed until the neutral 0r dead center position of the spring is reached, and vupon continued movement the spring passes dead` center and the tongue is snapped over against the opposite side of the recess 6, at which *5' vtime the spring Willbe in thekpositionshown Vin dotted lines in Fig.`1. y Aswill ,be .,.understood, the yspring 25 should. b'ejof such; strength as willl permit' ef- Y icient functioning of the mechanism. The

K, simplicity of the device and the fact that it replaces a number. foperating parts which l are relatively expensive to produce affords a great advantage over prior forms Vof switchV operating mechanism. Furthermorq the n spring Will last almost indelinitely Without :getting outoforder, la'condition which is not present where relatively, movable, frictional operating parts are used in an assembly for operating switches. Y

i ,lQInsa switch a.tongue,a -reach rod connectedatoneextremity to saidtongue and at its opposite extremity formedwith a recess, and .means-*for positioning `said tongue com- 25 prising acompression springformed interme- Y diate of its length with a flattened portion which is rnovably positioned in ,said recess and seated at opposite extremities in an axial vplane parallel Withthelongitudinal'axis of 30 thespring when under greatest compression.

` m ment of said rod.

. 2. In a switch a tongue, a reach rod rigidly connected atfone end to said t0ngue,and

means for positioning saidtongue compris- Y Ving a compression spring held againstexpan- 35 sion movement at its opposite ends and operatively` connected at an intermediate point to saidV rod, the connection beingsuch that relative movement is permitted between the rod and spring-to accommodate'arcuate move- 3. In aswitch ya tongue, a reach rod rigidly Aconnected at one end to `said tongueand at Y its Vvopposite end formed with a recess, Yand means :for `positioning said f tongue compris- 5 ing aspring vwhich is heldagainst lexpansion movement -atzopposite ends and formed with a `flattened portion intermediate its length which vis slidinglyvpositioned in saidfrecess.

i .In testimony whereof, 'Ihave hereunto set 50 my hand. Y n

Y vEDWIN S.BOSSI}ER. l 

